So I'm back {TAG Sinbad, Tycho}

Eric rode the whole day long with Sinbad, keeping quiet for the main part, just exchanging with his lover quiet and shy, tense smiles. The more they got closer to Rverrun, the more tense Eric got: it was pointless lying now, he was scared of what his family would have said, of exactly how bad they would have welcomed him... but it was too late to just turn around and change direction, and beside, if he didn't face them now he risked not to be able to face them ever again.

They reached Riverrun only late in the night, which at least meant his brothers and Cao were already asleep. As two sleepy servants reached them in the stables, taking care of the horses as he and Sinbad got down, one of them asked if he wanted him to wake up Tycho "NO!" Eric replied, a bit quicker and a bit louder than he would have wanted. Trying to hide his embarrassment, he continued in a lower tone "There is no need, thank you."

The servant didn't look too happy to have to keep almost hidden the presence of the Tully-crow and his friend, but he still didn't object, and instead offered to escort them to the guests rooms but Eric stopped him mid-phrase "I think... I'd prefer to go to the sept now..." one big reason was that he just didn't want to be separated from Sinbad, but he couldn't just ask for one bedroom. Beside... he did come back to face his parents death. He had to do it...

As Sinbad got off his horse, one of the servants took his horse to take care of the animal in the stable. The male stayed silent throughout the trip but that didn't mean that he didn't take notice of how his lover's tone had been quick and louder with the servant asking about Tycho. Sinbad had to hold back a smile as his lover tried to cover up his embarrassing mistake. "We wouldn't want him to get even more stressed out with greeting us and such." Sinbad remarked out to the servant, giving them a slight nod.

Sinbad slightly grimaced a bit at his lovers suggestion about going to the sept for now. "Do you want to go there alone?" he asked, wanting to make sure that his lover was truly alright with what was going on soon.

Eric nodded at Sinbad's remark, thankful for his lover's providential intervention: that seemed a convincing enough reason for the servant, who finally left them. After all, he wouldn't interfere with the Tully's mourning...

Eric breathed in deeply, trying to convince himself to move toward the sept but that was no easy job... And SInbad's question didn't help: he turned toward his lover raising an eyebrow, with an expression that asked my itself 'are you seriously asking?'. For a moment he was tempted to take Sinbad's hand, he actually stretched his hand toward his lover's one before the realisation of where they were hit him and stopped the movement mid-air, retreating: the servants were gone for the moment, but who knew when they could get back... or even who could spy on them?

"Please come with me" he simply pleaded him with a sad expression before he would finally start walking toward the sept.

Sinbad rolled his eyes ever so slightly as his lover turned and gave him a look. His eyes trailed down a bit to take notice of Eric stretching his hand out to him before quickly snatching it back. It seemed that his lover remembered where they were and he still cared about prying eyes. But did Sinbad cared about those eyes? No, he didn't. He quickly reached out and grabbed his lover by the retreating hand. "You know I'm always by your side." Sinbad murmured before he started to lead Eric towards the Sept.

Eric had already made a few steps toward the sept when suddenly he felt Sinbad's hand grabbing his: he froze on the spot as a chilling shiver crossed his spine making him open wide his eyes in terror. Did anyone see that? He quickly looked around, keeping his breath, but nobody seemed to be around. Nonetheless, he had to break that contact: he couldn't allow this to happen in Riverrun! Sinbad knew, dammit! And what was worse, was that he actually wanted to take his hand again, but he couldn't... a dragon's nest would have been a safer place to Eric in that moment, he couldn't risk his family to find out... He sent a sad smile to Sinbad, walking next to him toward the Sept: if he wasn't so tense, he would have found amusing how Sinbad felt the need to lead him even in his own home... well, what used to be his home.

Finally Eric reached the sept with Sinbad: without stopping he opened the door and got it. The whole sept was enlightened by candles and there was a strong smell of flowers to cover the stench of bodies. And then they were: Uncle and Aunt, John and Jane... and... mother and father... Eric had to stop as soon as he saw them and turned away, temped to run away again, feeling a painful sensation in his throat as his view started to get blurred...

Sinbad sighed out lightly in annoyance but made no attempt to grab his lovers hand back again and didn't respond to his lover breaking the contact. His lover was still a frightened rabbit. Even though the ones who looked down on him and sent him to the wall were in that room. Well maybe something may never change. Even if they were for the better.The male slightly felt a bit better though when Eric sent him a sad smile. Sinbad gave his lover a small smile before glancing back over at the doors that they had finally reached. His nose slightly winkled at the strong scent of flowers that tried to mask the scent of death. Sinbad tensed a bit as memories of his mother's death tugged at his mind again. But his mind was soon distracted by his lovers reaction to the sight of his loved ones. "Eric..." Sinbad murmured before blocking his lover's exit way out of the sept.

Eric could easily hear the sigh of annoyance that Sinbad let out, but there was nothing he could do in that moment: it was too risky... It wasn't like he had forgotten the promise he had made in Dorne, but this was no place like Dorne and actually even just inviting Sinbad to come was such a huge step forward compared to the past... was that not enough? Eric had no doubt that, in the best case, he would have lost any contact he had with his family if they would have found out... was that what his lover wanted?

It was no time for such thoughts though, since the sight of his parents lying in their death beds, not far for his uncles and cousins, heavily distracted him. He closed his eyes, stopping the tears from falling "I can't do this, I can't... please let's get out..." Eric gave his back to the bodies and moved toward Sinbad and the door, only hoping his stubborn lover would allow him to leave that damn place...

Sinbad grimaced a bit as he took notice of Eric closing his eyes, already knowing that the male was trying not to cry. "Lose your composure here. I don't think you want to lose it in front of your brothers." Sinbad remarked as he stood still in front of the doorway. The male was trying to resist himself from hugging his lover which Sinbad knew that he definitely needed. But if the male wouldn't hold his hand then a hug was out of the question.

Eric stood next to the door, in front of Sinbad, since it was evident that the other male had no intention to let him leave. And it wasn't like Eric didn't understand Sinbad was doing it for his own good... but it still hurt, and as always his first instinct was just to run, run away. He couldn't bring himself to face them, to face his parents... he even wondered if it was offensive now toward them to have taken his lover in front of their dead bodies... What a sick irony, he just managed to do on their death bed what he had never managed to do while they were still alive... and still, he wouldn't be able to act naturally toward Sinbad now, it felt like even in death his family was staring at him, judging him... he could feel their disappointment even now... or maybe that was just an echo, a memory... Eric brought a hand to cover his eyes, biting strongly his lip, forcing himself to keep the tears in. After all, last time he had cried in that same damn place, his father had been anything but pleased... those kind of things do sink in... In some weird way, Eric just didn't feel "welcome" there... like the dead could actually show disappointment in him... maybe if he only would turn to stare at them he would realise that it was only his mind playing tricks on him...